Jardín was absolutely one of my favorite small towns in Colombia. If you visit Colombia and are willing to venture outside of the larger cities, Jardín, Barichara and Guatapé should be at the top of the list.
If I had it to do over again, I would probably take the bus from Medellín to Jardín and return the same way. Instead, I took a two-bus trip from Jericó to get to Jardín and then a chiva bus from Jardín toward Manizales which also ultimately required a second bus. The chiva bus ride deserves its on blog post coming soon.
I don't want to get too political in these posts, but I have spent a total of three months in Colombia traveling all over the country and I have always felt safe; much safer than I feel when I visit some other countries which shall remain nameless.
I was in Jardín for Easter 2022; a wonderful time to visit. Unlike Costa Rica which shuts down during Semana Santa and especially on Easter Sunday, Jardín was active and vibrant during those days. The Easter procession itself was controlled and more solemn; unlike the more chaotic procession in Jericó.
I took a day and a half birding trip with a small company based in Jardín. The next post will include some photos and information about that tour.
The town
The church
The Easter procession - well-organized and well-attended. Almost every person participating was carrying a lit candle.
Views from the surrounding hills
Making panela (sugar cane) - a very popular food and drink in Colombia
Beautiful, colorful city! Very special that you caught the procession.